If Cellino makes these three key decisions at Leeds, will it all change?

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is plotting his return from Football League suspension, but is yet to make a decision on the future of Neil Redfearn.

With the 2014/15 season due to end, and Leeds due to finish in the bottom half of the table, a change of approach is clearly required for the club to be successful.

That change of approach however must come from within the owner, rather than than simply changing the head coach.

Cellino has decisions to make at Leeds, and the following are two he needs to get right:

1) Extend Neil Redfearn's contract as Head Coach

2) Bring back Steve Thompson as Redfearn's assistant

The two must be considered a package deal, with Thompson key to the success Redfearn enjoyed in the early part of the year. Leeds have lost five of six games since his most unwelcome suspension by the club over a personal disagreement with sporting director Nicola Salerno.

The third decision Cellino must make is arguably the one the Italian would have the biggest problem with.

3) Confirm Salerno's departure as sporting director and leave recruitment in the hands of Redfearn

Cellino is likely to find this difficult, given that this is a system he implemented at Italian side Cagliari for many seasons. Yet Salerno's imports have struggled to find success, with only Sol Bamba and Marco Silvestri so far panning out, with Mirco Antenucci also arguable.

Salerno is currently on a leave of absence, and it is unlikely he would be able to work effectively alongside Thompson again. For Redfearn to stand the best chance of promotion he should be given the opportunity to bring the players to Leeds who he wants.

This all may be too much power for Cellino to give away to Redfearn, but with Salerno at a crossroads, now is the time for him to take the chance on the current head coach.

If he fires him and fails to hit the jackpot with his next appointment, the other recommended decision may be for Cellino to walk away and sell up.

Dan Coombs

Dan Coombs has been writing for HITC Sport full time since 2012 and has helped the website grow it's audience considerably during this period, while managing a team of writers. He has interviewed high profile names including Stuart Pearce and his work has been cited in Javier Hernandez's biography. In addition to football, Dan is a big fan of the NFL and NBA.